Sagnes



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. A. CAS$AGNES.

PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

N. PEYERS, Pholoillhographqr. Vannium, D.C,

5 SheetsSheet (No Model.)

G. A. GASSAGNES.

- PRINTING TELEGRAPH. No. 313,176. Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

5 She etsSheet s.

G. A. OA SSAG NES.

PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

I I I IL N. PETERS. PhMu-Ldhugmplmr. Waalnnglo, n. c

4 t e e h S S t e e h S 5 S E N G A S S A U A G m d O M O PRINTINGTELEGRAPH.

Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

\N VA M o I O I 5% m s\ a M u m a N WC. I f 0 Q J I z o :Vil. g s J I m0 U N 0 k I M 9 n z h] I WZM M. I II 4 w o wit O K N PETERS,Pholc-Lvkhugraphen Wishing (N0 Mode 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

G. A. CASSAGNES. PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

No. 313,176. Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

l' jo fl Iwrent m v Witnesses:

UNITED STATES? PATENT @rrica.

GILBERT A. CASSAGNES, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

PRINTING-TELEGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,176, dated March 3,1885.

Application filed May 10, 1884. (No model.) Patented in France April 7,1854, No. 161,395.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GILBERT ALFRED Cas- SAGNES, civil engineer, ofParis, in the Republic of France, have invented an Apparatus for theAutomatic Transcription of Steno-,, graphic Signs and Ch aracters intoTypographical Characters, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent ofFrance for fifteen years, dated April 7, 1884, and numbered 161.395,)and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

In two previous applications, the one filed October 25, 1883, known asSerial No. 109,934, and since patentedto wit, on November 11, 1881-theotherfiled May 9, 1884, known as Serial No. 130,852, both of whichconcern the application to the uses of telegraphy of the principles ofmechanical stenography, and especially those known and patented underthe name of Michelas system of mechanical stenography, I have showndifferent methods of attaining the object I had in view-namely, thetransmission at a distance of signs or letters representing the phoneticsounds.

In my two said applications a printed band or tape is described, thesame as the band or tape produced by the stenographic machine itself.Although this printed band or tape is sufficient for many objects, itnevertheless renders the assistance of persons having a pervfeetknowledge of the reading of stenographic characters necessary; hence alarger number of skilled persons and more time will be required toexecute the work. I therefore believe that a system of automatictranscription of the signs or characters of stenography into ordinaryletters of the alphabet would be highly advantageous. It wouldfacilitate the reading, would diminish the time required for it, andwould render the employment of skilled persons for the purpose oftranscribing the printed bands at the receivingstation useless.

The object of my present invention is,therefore, in a general manner,the automatic transscription of bands of paper bearing stenographiccharacters by a system of machinery fitted With key-boards.

I will now proceed to describe my invention, but shall first observethat this automatic transcription, while it presents evident advantages,such as those I have just enumerated, does not detract from the value ofthe stenographic system which is described in my former applications.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation,partly in section, of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a top view of thesame. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and S are diagrams hereinafter referred to.Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the position and connections of theconducting-wires. Fig. 10 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, ofthe-relay employed in the machine; Fig. 11, a face view, and Fig. 12 atop view, of the same.

The transmission, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is effected in the samemanner as described in the two above-mentioned applications namely, bymeans of a keyboard whose keys K, when depressed, make contacts at thetransmitting station T with electro-magnets, not shown,) thereby closingthe circuits through which the signal is transmitted to thereceiving'station R.

The printing apparatus in the present case, although different withrespect to the number and nature of the letters or characters with whichit is provided, can also, if wanted, be constructed in a similar fashionto that of the two printing systems I have previously described in saidearlier applications; but my present invention adds to those twoessential parts of my system a third element namely, the one wanted forthe automatic transcrip tion of the paper band or tape, and which I callthe combiner. This combineris placed at the receiving-station It, asshown at Y, Figs. 1 and 2; and its object is to receive the transmittedsignals and to combine them one with the other, so as to cause theprinting appara tus to reproduce the letter or letters corre sponding tothe signals or combinations of sig nals transmitted.

The combiner Y, which I shall now describe, can be applied to theautomatic transcription of any stenographic band mechanically producedby the action of a key-board; but, for the sake of making it clearer, Iwill show its application to Michelas stenographic system, which I hadmore especially in view.

It is understood that in case another code or alphabet should be used,the combiner could be easily adapted to the same.

In order to make clearer the action of my combiner, it may be usefulthat I should briefly recall the stenographic methodin question.

lllichelaskeyboard consists of twenty keys, divided from the left-handside into four series, comprising, respectively, and in the followingorder from left to right, six, four, four, and six keys. The six keys inthe first series form twenty-six combinations, corresponding totwenty-six letters, and these combinations are the following: sixcombinations of one key at a time, twelve combinations of two keys at atime, and eight combinations of three keys at a time. In Michelas methodthere are never depressed more than three keys at a time in each series.Of course, these twenty-six combinations do not represent the totalnumber of possible combinations; but they are sufficient for the purposeof this method. The four keys of the second series form elevencombinations, which are four combinations of one key at a time, fivecombinations of two keys at a time, and two combinations of three keysat a time. The third and fourth series are identical withthe second andfirst, respectively, the key-board being perfectly symmetrical on eachside of the cen ter line. From the left-hand side the six keys in thefirst series are numbered 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 18, respectively. Those ofthe second series are numbered 1, 2, 3, and 6. From the center line thefour keys in the third series are represented by the numbers 6, 3, 2,and 1; those of the fourth series by the numbers 18, 9, 6, 3, 2, and 1.Those keys combine as follows:

For the first series, (a.) Combinations of one key at a time, 1,2,3,6,9, 18. Total, 6. (1).) Combinations oftwo keys at atime, (1 3,) (16,) (3 18,) (6 9,) (6 18.) Total, 12. (0.) Combinations of three keys ata time. (1 3 9,) (1 6 9,) (1 3 18,) (1 6 18,) (2 3 9,) (2 6 9,) (23 18,)(2 6 18.) Total, 8. General total, 26. (Shown on the left-hand side ofFig. 8.)

The combination of the keys in the second series are the following: (0.)Combinations of one key at a time, 1, 2, 3, 6. Total, 4. (b.)Combinations of two keys at a time, (1 3,) (1 6,) (2 3,) (2 6,) (3 6.)Total, 5. (0.) Combinations of three keys at a time, (1 3 6,) (2 3 6.)Total, 2. General total, 11. (Shown on the right-hand side of Fig. 8.)

The key-board, as it has already been stated, being perfectlysymmetrical, the combinations of the third and fourth series areidentical with those of the second and first series, respectively. Itfollows that the total number of necessary combinations to theapplication of the method is seventy-four, transmitted to thereceiving-station and transformed by the action of the combiner intoseventy-four letters, which are printed by the apparatus on the paperband or tape.

I willnow give a detailed description of the combiner. The currentsclosed by the contacts under the keys K of the transmitting key-board,when they reach the receivingstation R, flow through electromagnetsplaced at the points marked 1, 2, 18; l,2,....6;'.. 1.;18...1,on Figs. 2and 8. These currents, when they are produced by the depression of asingle key, pass directly through the combiner, as through an ordinaryrelay, so as to put in motion the style, P being the correspondingletter. Then two simultaneous currents arrive in the same series,through the simultaneous depression of two keys belonging to the sameseries at the transmittingstation, they move two relays of the combiner,and these two relays closc only one local circuit, which, therefore,acts only on one printingstyle P corresponding to the combinationtransmitted by the two keys depressed simultaneously. W'hen threesimultaneous currents arrive at the combiner in the same series, thecombiner closes only one local circuit, putting in motion theletter-printing style 1? corresponding to the combination transmitted bythe three keys simultaneously depressed. It is also necessary that anycombination of two currents corresponding to two depressed keys shouldbreak automatically in the combiner the local circuits of each one ofthese two keys taken singly. In the same manner, any combination ofthree keys should break,also automatically, the local circuits of eachone of these keys taken one at a time, as well as the local circuits ofthese keys taken two at a time.

As stated, Michelas key-board consists of four series of keys, and anynumber of keys from one to three can be simultaneously depressed in eachseries. The combinations of signs produced represent for each series asingle letter of the ordinary alphabet. It is therefore necessary forthe automatic transcription of such a letter that only the combinationrepresenting it should act on the printing instrument. This combinationis necessarily that formed by the maximum 11 u mber of keys depressed.For instance, when three keys are depressed in one of the series thiscombination of three keys represent only one letter. This letter isprinted, but unless means were provided the instrument would also printthe letters represented by each key taken singly, or by any combinationsthey form two at a time.

The means employed are clearly set forth in the description of Fig. 8,and consist in automatic circuit-breakers acting as follows: WVhen twokeys are depressed, the circuits of each one taken singly are broken,and the common circuit of bot-h taken together is left to act alone.Similarly, when three keys are depressed, the circuits of each one takenseparately,as well as the circuits of the keys taken two at a time, areautomatically broken, and the common circuit of the three keys takentogether is left to act alone.

I will now describe the principle of the local circuits of the variouscombinations of one, two, and three keys, respectively.

For the combination of one single key depressed at a time, the currentof the line L, Fig. 3, flows through the electro-magnet of the relay E,attracts the armature A, which closes thewlocal circuit of battery B,whose current then flows through the electro-magnet, which moves theletter-printing style I corresponding to the key depressed at thetransmitting-station.

For the combination of two keys depressed at atime, the typical circuitcan be represented by Fig. 4, which represents only the local circuit.\Vhen two currents arriving from the transmitting-station attract, bymeans of electro-magpets and armatures, the two contact-plates 1 and 2on the contact-points placed underneath, the circuit of the localbattery B is closed, and the letterprinting style P corresponding to thecombination (1 2) is lifted by its electro-ma-gnet. It is evidentfromthe figure that this action can only take place when both thecontact-plates land 2 are simultaneously attracted. Similarly, for thecombinations of three keys depressed at a time the typical local circuitis represented by Fig. 5. When the three contactplates 1, 2, and 3aresimultaneously attracted by the action of three currents from thetransmitting-station on the contact-points placed underneath, then, andthen only, the circuit of the local battery B is completely closed, andacts on the letter-printing style I corresponding to the combination (12 3.)

Fig. 4 represents only the local circuit for two keys depressed at atime. At 1 and 2 are two relays moved by currents coming from the line.(Not shown on the figure.) When the keys corresponding are depressed atthe transmittingstation, these armatures pressed down the contact-platesrepresented by the two circles onto the contact-points connected withthe conductors of the local circuit. It is easily seen from the figurethat the local circuit is continuous only when both armatures aredepressed; therefore the printing style at P corresponding to thecombination (1 2) can only act when both keys aredepressed.

Fig. 5 gives the diagrammatic typical local circuit for combinations ofthree keys depressed at a time. Herealso the local circuit only isillustrated, and relays moved by the line-currents are placed at thepoints marked 1 2 3. Vhen they are all three acted upon simultaneously,the circuit represented by the triangle 1 2 3 is continuous, and thebattery B will send a current through the printing-style 1?corresponding to the said combination (1 2 3.) It is also seen that thisaction can only take placewhen all three contact plates are pressed ontothe contactpoints placed underneath.

It is easy to see, from the examination of Fig. 8, how the circuits ofthe combinations of one key and of two keys are arranged. The

circuits of one key at a time are represented by the dotted lines; thoseof two keys by the chain-lines or dash-and-dot lines, and those of threekeys by the continuous or full lines. I will exemplify with moredetails, by means of the diagrams or Figs. 6 and 7, the manner ofarranging the circuits of the combination of three keys at a time.

Fig. 6 represents the local circuits of these combinations for the firstand fourth series of the keyboards taken three at a time. (Eightcombinations.) Each combination can be represented by a triangle. Fig. 6contains eight such triangles, corresponding to the eight combinationsof the first and fourth series. The simultaneous attraction of any threecontact-plates H closes, therefore, the local circuit of one of thoseeight combinations in attracting the vertices of the triangle by whichit is represented. In order, however, that the attraction of thecontact-plates Hat the angles marked 1, 18,and 3,1"0 r instancewhichcauses the flow of a current through the electromagnet of theletter-printing style P, should not at the same time also cause the flowof a current through the electro-magnet of the letter-printing style 1?,which corresponds to the combination (1 8 9,) which would take place ifthe contact plates or rings were continuous, as P is also connected withl and 3, it is necessary to make the said plates each in two pieces thatare insulated from one another, as shown on the figure. Theletter-printing style P (1 3 9) can no more, then, be moved at the sametime with the style P, (l 8 18,) and only acts when its section of thecontact plate or ring 9 is attracted in unison with 1 and 3. Thisdiagram indicates, therefore, the solution of the questionnamely, tocause to flow through the electro-magnet of a letter-printing style,andthrough it alone,a current which moves it when the three keyscorresponding to that style have been depressed at thetransmitt-ing-station.

Fig. 7 gives the solution of the question for the series 2 and 3 of thekey-board. It will be easily understood on mere examination after theexplanation which hasjust been given of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows the general disposition of all the combinations for thefourth series of the keyboard. As far as the combinations of three keysat a time are concerned, it is after all but the development of thediagrams of Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 8 also indicates the most advantageousdisposition concerning the economyin the number ofbatteries, 850. Theseries P P I stand for the letter-printing styles, which are moved byelectro-magnets. The batteries 13 B B feed the local circuits of thecombinations of three keys at a time. The batteries B B feed the localcircuits of the combinations of one key and two keys at a time.

As I have already stated, it is necessary when one combination of twokeys is transmitted that the local circuits corresponding to each one ofthose keys, taken singly, should be broken at the receiving-station inorder that the local circuit corresponding to the two keys taken at atime should act alone. It is also necessary for the combination of threekeys that the local circuits of each one taken singly, as well as thoseof the combinations of two at a time, which they can form amongthemselves, should be also broken, so as to leave only the local circuitcorresponding to the combination of the three keys at a time. I get atthis result by means of the automatic disposition shown on Fig. 8. Theelectromagnets E E E E of the relays are placed in the local circuits ofthe combinations of two keys at a time, .which circuits are representedby the chain-lines or dash-and-dot lines. These electro-magnets arewound with two wires in order to avoid having two separateelectro-magnets together with twice the number of armatures. when one ofthose wires is traversed by an electric current,both armatures areattracted, and the circuits of the keys, taken one at a time, whichcircuits are represented by the dotted lines, are thereby automaticallybroken. Similarly, when the interrupting electro-magnets E E E E,traversed by the continuous lines representing the local circuits of thecombinations of three keys at a time, are magnetized by the passage ofan electric current in one of those wires, they will attract theirarmatures, and will break automatically the circuits of the combinationsof one at a time and of two at a time.

It will be noticed on examining Fig. 8 that the local circuits of thecombinations of three keys at a time are interrupted in a Z) 0 (Z efg h,and that the same letters are shown on the wires traversing theelectro-magnets E E E E on the lower part of the figure. In realitythese circuits are continuous, and the abovementioned electromagnets areincluded in them; but for the sake of making the drawin g clearer, Ihave thought it more advisable to place those electro-magnets lowerdown, after, however,havinggiven thepresentexplanation. My combiner,such as it is diagrammatically represented on Fig. 8, gives, therefore,a complete solution of the question of the automatic transcription ofMichelas band into ordinary characters; and,as this method ofstenography can be applied to all languages, it follows, therefore, thatmy invention allows the transcription of mechanical stenography intoordinary characters for the various countries where my apparatus wouldbe employed. However, I only intend to give the combiner I have justdescribed as an example, in order that the method of automatictranscription of bands produced by mechanical stenography be betterunderstood; and although I claim the property of this combiner, I mean,however, to keep the right of introducing such modifications as I maydeem advisable.

In my preceding application of May 9, 1884, I have already stated, asfar as Michelas method is concerned, and by making use of the same wireor conductor for two keys, that I could reduce to twelve instead oftwenty the wires or conductors of my electric cable, not counting thereturn-wire.

By examining the combinations Ihave given at the beginning of thisspecification it will be noticed that for the first and fourth series ofMichelas key-board, key No. 1 forms no combination with key No. 2, norkey No. 3 with key No. 6, nor key No. 9 with key No. 18. I can thereforeuse only three wires or conductors for each one of these two series bymaking use of polarized relays and currents of different directions.series will each want three wires or conductors. Key No. 1 enters intono combination with key No. 2. The total number of requisite wires orconductors is therefore twelve.

The method of connection I have just shown has also the valuableadvantage of automatically stopping the transmission of any erroneoussignals. For instance, if, through any mistake on the part of themanipulator, keys No. 1 and No. 2 were depressed at the same time, nocurrent would pass through the line, for one of the keys would tend totransmit a current in the positive direction and the other in thenegative direction.

Fig. 9 shows the method of having only twelve line-wires instead oftwenty. K K K (numbered 1 2 3 19 20) are the twenty keys of themanipulator, provided with electrical contact-pieces, so as to close thecircuits on which they are placed when they are depressed. B B are twobatteries, connected with these keys (ten keys each) by their oppositepoles. L L is a line-cable connecting both stations. R R R are polarizedrelays, worked only by currents flowing in definite directions. 9* 1oare ordinary relays. According to Michelas alphabet keys 1 and 2 arenever depressed simultaneously, nor are keys 3 and et, 5 and 6, 7 and 8,13 and 14., 15 and 16, 17 and 18, 19 and 20. Therefore, if key No. 1 isconnected with battery B and key No. 2 to battery B, the first will sendpositive and the second negative currents through the line. They cantherefore have only one line wire or conductor for both of them betweenthe two stations. At the receiving-station the polarized relay R will beacted upon if the current is positive, and the polarized relay It, ifthe current is negative. The action of the other relays will be similar.It is easily understood how the polarized relaysRItlt on one hand andthe ordinary relays M r on the other can, in their turn, close localcircuits corresponding to the twenty relays of the combiner without itsbe ing necessary to show the arrangements on the diagram. This mode ofmaking the connections has also the further advantage of preventing thetransmission of erroneous signals, for if keys No. 1 and No. 2, forinstance, were erroneously depressed at the same time, (a thing whichshould never occur,) key No. 1

The second and third would tend to transmitapositive current and key No.2 a negative current through the same wire. These two actions wouldmutually destroy one another, and no current would flow through the lineL corresponding to these two keys 1 and 2. The other keys would noteither send any current at this instant, as the two batteries B and Bwould be short-circuited, and therefore no erroneous or incom pletesignal could be transmitted. This reduction of the line-wires to twelveinstead of twenty is not, however, a minimum. By means of synchronouslyrotating disks or tables of contacts, as already alluded to, only onewire need be used. These instruments are too well known in multiplextelegraphy to need description.

The printing part of my apparatus can be constructed according to thesame principle as those I have already described in my previousapplications, but with seventy four printing-styles bearing ordinaryletters in the case of Michelas method, or with a number of stylescorresponding to the number of combinations in the signal-code made useof. As for the disposition of my seventy-four letterprinting styles,itcan naturally be very changeable. They can be arranged on several rowsand close to one another, and be acted on directly by electro-magnetsplaced in like rows. This is the disposition shown on Figs. 1 and 2. Theprinting can then be effected by the style itself pressing on aninking-ribbon. The forward motion of the paper can also be effected,asshown in my previous applications, with paper bands having awidthcorresponding to thewidth of the arrangement ofthe styles, and theprinting can then be done in syllabic lines placed one underneath theother. It can also be done by placing the mechanism producing the motionof the paper at right an-. gles to the preceding position, which wouldnecessitate a paper band of a much smaller width, and would placethesyllables one after the other in a continuous line. In this case thepaper band could have the width and the appearance of the paper band ofHughess printing-telegraph, for instance, but the letters would beneither side by side nor between two parallels. They would be placed atvariable heights on the width of the paper band.

I have given an illustration of one of the multiple contacts andindependent circuit-relays shown at 1 2 3, &c., Fig. 8. This relay isshown on a larger scale in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, and will help to thebetter understanding of the action of this important part of myapparatus. It consists of an electro-magnet, A", with two coils havingtheir terminals at B B a soft-iron armature, O, fixed on the frame D,which is movable round the pins 13 E. A spring, F, draws back thearmature C after attraction.

On the front part of the movable frame D is an ebonite piece, G. onwhich are fixed two brass contaet-bars, HH. The contact-springs I I Irest on the ebonite piece G when the armature is raised. Vhen a currentfrom the line flows through the coils of the electro-magnet A itsarmature C is attracted, and the frame is moved down bodily, so that theeX- tremities of the contact-springs III- slide from the ebonite baronto the contact-pieces H H, and are thereby put into electricalconnection. The terminals K K K serve to connect the wires going to eachcontactspring I.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters latent 1 1. Theapparatus for the automatic and electrical transcriptions ofconventional signs or combinations of signs forming a stenographicalphabet into ordinary letters, which apparatus embraces the combinationof the keys K, line L, combiner Y, having printing electromagnets andstyles P, and batteries B B, all arranged substantially as herein shownand described.

2. The hereinbefore-described combiner Y, consisting of the conductors,printing electromagnets, relays, circuit-breakers E and E, and styles1?, substantially as described.

3. In combination with series of keys K K, conductors L L, andelectro-magnets E E, the divided sectional contact-plates H, arrangedfor joint operation in prearranged series, as specified.

G. A. OASSAGNES.

lVitn esses:

A. BLETRY, GEORGE WALKER.

